Alan G. Foster, age 92, a resident of Winfield, IL, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. He was born March 31, 1933 on his grandfather's farm west of Girard, Illinois to Ralph & Mildred Foster.

Alan went to a one room schoolhouse from K-8th grade. He had to walk ¾ of a mile through the cornfields each day to get to school. He started high school in 1947 in town. As a senior he played football. He remembered every class and every teacher he had in high school. There were 18 in his graduating class. He got his Bachelor's Degree in Math Education in 1955 from Illinois State Normal University. He was the first in his family to graduate college. He later got a Masters Degree from the University of Illinois in 1962.
His first job was in Plano, IL where he met his wife Winifred. They married on August 12, 1961. Their daughter, Kathryn was born the next year in 1962. He had several teaching jobs before he landed at Addison Trail High School in 1966 where he was the Head Chair of the Math Department until 1991. After retiring from there, he taught part-time at Harper College and tutored students at Addison Trail. He supervised many student teachers from ISU as well over the years.

Alan won many awards during his professional and teaching career. He served on the Board of Directors of ICTM from 1973-76 and became President of the ICTM in 1976-77. He was part of Mathcounts contests for middle schoolers, and served on NCTM in various capacities.

His other major accomplishment was as an author. He wrote Algebra and Geometry books in the late 70's and early 80's. He authored and co-authored 22 math books over the years. He gave over 150 talks and workshops all over the United States during his career.

In his later years, he bought the old tractor he had as a kid and had it restored. He drove it in many 4th of July parades in Wheaton. Alan loved to stay busy, he enjoyed traveling, going down to the farm to check on crops, flying to visit old friends, attending various Wheaton College sports, and especially spending time with his grandchildren. He never failed to miss an event his daughter or his grandkids had as long as he was able.

He is survived by his daughter Kathryn (Richard) Zima of Wheaton and two grandchildren, Ryan and Ashley, Duane Frykman and Vaughn Frykman-nephews and Linda Woodward-niece and their families. He was preceded in death by his wife Winifred.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Following the service will be a luncheon at the church. Interment will be private at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church or We Grow Dreams, PO Box 861, West Chicago, IL 60186 (this is where his grandson works and they employ adults who are developmentally disabled).

Family and friends may sign a guestbook at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.